A Watch to Watch- Max Bill by Junghans

October 28, 2014

For the second installment of “A Watch to Watch,” I turned my attention overseas. Over the past fifty years, American audiences have been captivated by Swiss craftsmanship but few know about the great legacy of watchmaking in Germany. German watchmaking is characterized by functional simplicity. Today, we will look at a collection of watches from Junghans. Junghans is a relatively small German brand founded by Erhard Junghans in 1861. For over 150 years, Junghans has specialized in crafting timepieces with the finest attention to detail and design.

Currently Junghans, has four collections -- Erhard Junghans, Junghans Meister, Technology, and the Max Bill by Junghans. Out of the four collections, the Max Bill collection claims the biggest stake in the entry-level market. The rare combination of Bauhaus design and expert craftsmanship are intrinsic to these timepieces.

Inspired by the late ecstatic designer-- Max Bill, the collection echoes simplicity and refinement. With nearly thirty different offerings, the Max Bill Collection has a watch for every palette. From the typography used on the dial of the watch to the in-house movements made by Junghans, all elements of this collection exude quality. After further inspection, I was most drawn to the Max Bill Chronoscope model (above) which retails for $1980 USD. Junghans hit gold with the Chronoscope model. In layman's terms, “chronoscope” refers to the chronograph function with a more precise unit of measurement. Coming in at just 40mm and propelled by the in-house J880.2 movement, this watch could easily go for over $4k USD. Everything about this watch catches the eye. The extreme attention to detail driven by utility and value is unparalleled at this price point. For those who are interested in more information, please take a look at the Junghans website - http://www.junghans.de/en/junghans-collection/watches/maxbill/detail.html

In fairness, German watch design has always caught my attention. Naturally, I am drawn to timepieces that do not sacrifice design and quality for commercial consumption. Junghans is doing something very unique here and it is time for American audiences to take notice. The Max Bill Collection offers unsurpassed value without compromise. Undoubtedly, the Chronoscope model is the flagship of their lineup. I encourage everyone to take a deeper look at German watchmaking and more specifically, Junghans. Although the price point is a little higher than American competitors, the value is unmatched and these watches are conversation pieces. Time will tell whether or not Junghans will gain a foothold in North American markets. Until then, be one of the lucky few to get your hands on the Max Bill Collection by Junghans. German watchmaking at its’ finest.

To learn more about about Max Bill, the artist, visit Artsy's Max Bill page.

Brand Spotlight: LIV-Swiss Watches (Updated)

October 11, 2014

In the hope of consistently providing the latest industry news to my followers, I have turned to Kickstarter. As some of you know, Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. From its' inception, Kickstarter has been instrumental in bringing affordable entry-level pieces to market--successfully and unsuccessfully.

One recent Kickstarter campaign that deserves the attention of the watch industry is a brand called LIV- Swiss Watches. LIV is a newly established men's watch brand hailing from Brooklyn, NY. Founded by a seasoned veteran of the Swiss watch industry, the brand has set out to make quality "Swiss Quartz Chronographs" at the sub $1000 USD price. Although there are quite a players in that space --Hamilton, Tissot, Certina, and Mido to name a few, LIV believes their products offer a unique value proposition.

Breaking conventional norms is what LIV is all about. The tagline for this brand is "AIM. CONQUER. LIV." Relaxed masculinity is at the heart of this brand. On the brand website, they assert that the LIV Man is "...masculine and rugged while effortlessly fashionable, with an innate attention to detail." With this assessment in mind, it is easy to see why the design and branding of the Genesis X1 is catered to a younger male audience.

Turning back to the brand's efforts at watch making, LIV launched a successful Kickstarter campaign in late September of this year. Within the first hours of their campaign they managed to surpass their target goal of $30,000. Their first product was the Genesis X1.

The Genesis X1 is a pretty attractive piece that will have broad appeal with younger audiences. Various color options truly complement the sporty design of the watch. Where this brand diverges from the rest of the market is in the attention to detail and the overall quality of their products. Using the RONDA Caliber 5040D, and coming in just shy of $600 USD, the Genesis X1 definitely stands out from the quartz chronograph market at that price point. Additional features such as the 300m depth rating and a multi-layered dial all add value to the piece.

LIV hit gold with the design of the Genesis X1 but the timing of this company may be a little off. As the Swatch Group and LVMH ( parent company of Tag Heuer) move further into the entry-level space, the market simply does not have room for another major Quartz brand. In defense of LIV, emerging giant SEVENFRIDAY has successfully created a similar brand ethos --minus the chronograph, and quartz movement. Adding automatic movements to the LIV lineup could be their saving grace. Until then, I think this brand will experience some boutique success but limited success with the masses. If I can get my hands on a piece to review I will.

Visit their website- http://www.livwatches.com/

A Watch to Watch- Shinola Runwell Sport

September 29, 2014

A Watch to Watch Special- Every now and then it is important to look at newly released watches that have the potential to shakeup the industry. The Shinola Runwell Sport fits the mold. Shinola is a Detroit-based manufacturer of leather goods, watches, and most famously shoe polish.

Recently rebranded in 2011, Shinola has taken the watch world by storm. Traditional dress-casual design aesthetics, colorful dial options, and multiple bracelet offerings make this the brand the perfect fit for the young professional. The brand has made a name for itself through an unyielding commitment to craftsmanship, service, and the "Made in Detroit" stamp that adorns every watch. To date, Shinola has amassed a substantial number of brand loyalists who flock to flagship store locations in Detroit and Tribeca. I had the privilege of attending the grand opening of the flagship store in Tribeca a few years ago. Simply put, the brand does things differently-- a coffee-shop inside the Tribeca location says it all. Although there is tons to say about the brand, the focus of this post is the recent release of a new collection- the Runwell Sport.

The Runwell Sport is a hybrid design somewhere between the keystone Runwelll model and a dive watch. A rotating bezel as well as various strap options provide a well-needed entry-point into the the "Sports Watch" market. Introduced in three sizes--48mm, 42mm, 36mm, the Runwell Sport offers an option for everyone. Although currently, the only size with the chronograph feature is the 48mm option, Shinola has an uncanny knack for predicting consumer preferences. I am sure other size, dial, and strap variations are in the pipeline.

Attractive styling is characteristic of the brand. Priced anywhere from $625-$1,025, the Runwell Sport faces a lot of competition in that price range. Shinola will have to rely on strong marketing efforts to make this collection stand out from the rest. Needless to say, the success of the Runwell sport will be great to follow. I always enjoy taking a closer look at companies who produce affordable timepieces the right way. Props to Shinola.

Check out how Shinola makes their watches- http://vimeo.com/72087677

Brand Spotlight: SEVENFRIDAY

September 18, 2014

For our first brand spotlight, I would like to introduce a relatively new brand- SEVENFRIDAY.

Originally founded in 2012 by Daniel Niederer this brand has caught the eye of watch enthusiasts across the world. Niederer, a veteran of the watch industry, has experience working with brands from Japan to Australia. His unique industrial flare and focus on modern design is evident in the styling of SEVENFRIDAY timepieces.

This brand initially caught my eye because they were doing something so different from the rest of the industry. While many brands are introducing more high-end luxury products, and moving away from the entry-level market, SEVENFRIDAY is making unique and affordable pieces. Without a doubt the brand ethos of modern design and affordability has paid off. SEVENFRIDAY is currently represented in over 70 countries by some 300 retailers world-wide. More importantly, they are on pace to sell nearly 30,000 units this year alone.

When it comes to marketing, the brand is appealing to young audiences. Leveraging social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, SEVENFRIDAY has managed to gather a cult-like following of thousands. Although hard-core watch enthusiasts might scoff at the design and mechanics of SEVENFRIDAY, I think the pieces definitely add value to the collection of any fledgling watch enthusiast.

Bottom-line, the brand is doing something right and the industry should take notice. I am committed to reviewing one of their pieces in the next few weeks, fingers crossed.

Take a look at their latest collection here- http://www.sevenfriday.com/shop/sevenfriday-m1.html

For more brand info visit- http://www.sevenfriday.com/